2016 vwc educational conference

VWC Educational Conference 2016Providing the latest information on trends in workers’ compensation.

Conference InformationFood and Beverage

Wireless Internet

Reception

Coffee service will be available in the Exhibit Hall during all breaks. Heavy hors d’oeuvres and complimentary beer and wine will be served Wednesday afternoon during the reception (cash bar for cocktails). Continental breakfast will be served Thursday morning in the Exhibit Hall. Lunch will be served for all attendees Thursday in the Grand Ballroom.

Wireless internet is available to attendees free of charge in the Cyber Cafe, located on the first level, near the main lobby. The Cyber Cafe is also a free wireless “Hot Spot”.

Network and unwind with colleagues immediately after the last session on Wednesday at the evening cocktail reception, located in the Exhibit Hall. Heavy hors d’oeuvres, and complimentary beer and wine (cash bar for cocktails) will be served from 4:45 p.m.until 6:30 p.m.

Continuing Education CreditsParticipants may be eligible for continuing education credits for conference attendance. Please visit the Information Booth for more information.

Conference MaterialsConference and session materials will be provided to participants on a flash drive upon registration check-in. Materials can also be viewed and downloaded from the conference mobile website at www.vwcconference.workcomp.virginia.gov.

In cooperation with the International Workers’ Compensation Foundation, Inc. (IWCF), a non-profit organization dedicated to workers’ compensation education and outreach.

www.vwcconference.workcomp.virginia.gov

The Conference is MobileThe VWC 2016 Educational Conference has its own mobile website atwww.vwcconference.workcomp.virginia.gov.

Using the mobile website, you can:• View conference schedules• Download and view presentations• View fellow attendee names• Learn about speakers and sponsors• Ask questions

Schedule of EventsWednesday, October 19

10:00 am - 12:30 pm

12:30 pm - 1:45 pm

Medical Fee Schedule: A Practitioner’s Point of View

Welcome Address & Medical Fee Schedule ForumA Commission-led discussion on the impacts of a fee schedule for workers’ compensation in Virginia. What went into the legislation to get the fee schedule passed? How isit being developed and how it will be designed to work?

How Mediators Evaluate Cases

ABC’s of Workers’ Compensation for Health Care Providers

Show Cause Docket

A panel of Commission mediators will lead attendeesthrough a discussion on how cases are evaluated.

A Commission-led panel discussion of the ins-and-outs of workers’ compensation for medical providers. Unauthorized practice of law will be addressed.

An explanation to employers and insurers on how to avoid or, if not, to prepare for a show cause hearing.

Time Schedule Room

Registration Level 2 Foyer

Room E10ABCD

1:45 pm - 2:15 pm Break Room E11ABC

2:15 pm - 3:15 pm Concurrent Sessions

A panel of industry professionals (medical provider and attorney) will discuss what the fee schedule means to them.

Room E10AB

Room E10CD

Room E21A

Room E21BC


(continued)

Visit conference exhibitors and network! Exhibitors are available all day in the Exhibit Hall.


View and download conference materials: www.vwcconference.workcomp.virginia.gov

Join us!Enjoy some down time and mingle with peers. Heavy h’ordeuvres, drinks (beer, wine, and soda), and cash bar available.

Schedule of EventsWednesday, October 19 (continued)

Time Room

3:45 pm - 4:45 pmRoom E10AB

Room E10CD

Room E21A

Room E21BC

4:45 pm - 6:30 pm Reception Room E11ABC

Schedule

Concurrent Sessions”Pulling Back The Curtain” Full Commission ForumHear from the full Commission, the Clerk, and a staff attorney about what goes on behind the scenes relative to a Request for Review. Best practices will be emphasized.

Preventing Death: The Tragedy of Workplace Fatalities Virginia employees and employers have a strong history of maintaining fatality, injury and illness rates below national averages. The Virginia Department of Labor will discuss the recent rise in workplace fatalities and steps that can be taken by employers and workers to implement injury and illness prevention programs.

Medical Fee Schedule: A Practitioner’s Point of View (repeat) A panel of industry professionals (medical provider and attorney) will discuss what the fee schedule means to them.

Ethics A panel discussion of ethical dilemmas presented in workers’ compensation cases. Topics include representing undocumented workers, conflicts of interest, attorney communication with physicians, use of private investigators, settlement negotiations, and more.

Schedule of EventsThursday, October 20

7:30 am - 8:30 am

Time Schedule Room

Continental Breakfast Room E11ABC

Maximizing Mediation: “Techniques for Success”

Carriers Panel: Claims Processing Best Practices

Preventing Death: The Tragedy of Workplace Fatalities(repeat)

Use of Social Media in Workers’ Compensation Cases

A moderated panel discussion of carriers will participate in a discussion on effectively managing claims and the importance of communication and timely filings.

Social media is changing how compensability may be determined in workers’ compensation cases, including how investigators are using social media to track a claimant’s activity. Join us for a review of case law on the use of social media.

8:30 am - 9:30 am Concurrent Sessions

A panel discussion of techniques with insights into the characteristics present in successful mediations.

Room E10AB

Room E10CD

Room E21A

Room E21BC

Virginia employees and employers have a strong history of maintaining fatality, injury and illness rates below national averages. The Virginia Department of Labor will discuss the recent rise in workplace fatalities and steps that can be taken by employers and workers to implement injury and illness prevention programs.

9:30 am - 9:45 am Break Room E11ABC

9:45 am - 10:45 am Concurrent Sessions”Pulling Back The Curtain” Full Commission Forum (repeat)Hear from the full Commission, the Clerk, and a staff attorney about what goes on behind the scenes relative to a Request for Review. Best practices will be emphasized.

Room E10AB

(continued)


Schedule of EventsThursday, October 20 (continued)

Time Room

9:45 am - 10:45 amRoom E10CD

Room E21A

Room E21BC

10:45 am - 11:00 am Room E11ABC

11:00 am - 12:00 pm

Room E10AB

Room E10CD

Room E21A

Room E21BC

(continued)

Schedule

Concurrent Sessions (continued)Return to Work Perspectives from PractitionersA panel discussion; attorneys share their views on return to work issues.

Stardate Two Thousand and Something: Technology and its Impact on the Future of Workers’ CompensationSee and hear an exciting presentation featuring discussions and audio visual demonstrations on where technology developments may take workers’ compensation in the future.

Insurance Challenges Raised by the Sharing/Gig Economy A discussion on how nontraditional jobs such as dog walkers and UBER drivers are impacting workers’ compensation and recent high-profile cases su rounding this new workforce.

BreakVisit conference exhibitors and network! Exhibitors are available all day in the Exhibit Hall.

Concurrent Sessions

Ethics (repeat)A panel discussion of ethical dilemmas presented in workers’ compensation cases. Topics include representing undocumented workers, conflicts of interest, attorney communication with physicians, use of private investigators, settlement negotiations, and more.

Maximizing Mediation: “Techniques for Success” (repeat)A panel discussion of techniques with insights into the characteristics present in successful mediations.

ADR Efficiency: Medical IssuesA panel discussion on how the Commission’s ADR process can be used to quickly obtain authorization for medical treatment and get oustanding bills paid.

Affordable Care Act and Other Federal IssuesAn overview of how the changes brought about by the new Healthcare Law have affected workers’ compensation.


12:00 pm - 1:00 pm

Time Room

Room B21BC

1:00 pm - 2:00 pm

Room E10AB

Room E10CD

2:00 pm - 2:15 pm Room E11ABC

Room E21A

Room E21BC

(continued)

Schedule

Lunch

Concurrent Sessions

Willful Misconduct

Panelists, including a claimant’s attorney and defense counsel will discuss willful misconduct case law, with a focus on what it means to violate a reasonable and uniformly enforced rule or policy.

Use of Social Media in Workers’ Compensation Cases(repeat)

Social media is changing how compensability may be determined in workers’ compensation cases, including how investigators are using social media to track a claimant’s activity. Join us for a review of case law on the use of social media.

How Mediators Evaluate CasesA panel of Commission mediators will lead attendees through a discussion on how cases are evaluated.

What to Ask Your Insurance BrokerA discussion on what employers should be asking their broker about their workers’ compensation policy and workers’ compensation risk management practices.

BreakVisit conference exhibitors and network! Exhibitors are available all day in the Exhibit Hall.

Visit Conference Exhibitors & Network!Exhibitors are available all day in the Exhibit Hall.

3:30 pm - 4:30 pm National Conversations on Workers’ Compensation Room E10ABCD


Time Schedule Room

A Case Study: “You Decide 2016”

2:15 pm - 3:15 pm Concurrent Sessions

The audience is the judge! The Commission will present a case to the audience, who will collectively rule on the outcome. A deputy commissioner will then discuss his opinion.

Room E10AB

Room E10CD

Room E21A

Room E21BC

Insurance Challenges Raised by the Sharing/Gig Economy(repeat)A discussion on how nontraditional jobs such as dog walkers and UBER drivers are impacting workers’ compensation and recent high-profile cases surrounding this new workforce.

Return to Work Perspectives from Practitioners (repeat)A panel discussion; attorneys share their views on return to work issues.

Stardate Two Thousand and Something: Technology and itsImpact on the Future of Workers’ Compensation (repeat)See and hear an exciting presentation featuring discussions and audio visual demonstrations on where technology developments may take workers’ compensation in the future.


4:30 pm Adjournment


Workers’ compensation in the United States has reached an inflection point. Join in on the conversation to understand the state of workers’ compensation today and to identify what principles should guide it in the future. Conversations will address the public policy goals of workers’ compensation including coverage, benefit adequacy, medical treatment, causation, covered conditions, and more.

SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR GOLD SPONSORS

800‐849‐8282

www.vocmed.com

888‐321‐7945

www.iwpharmacy.com

866‐927 ‐2667

[email protected]

Richmond Convention Center Map

The Virginia Workers’ Compensation CommissionOur mission is to serve injured workers, victims of crimes, employers, and relatedindustries by providing exceptional services, resolving disputes, and faithfullyexecuting the duties entrusted to us by the Commonwealth of Virginia.

2016 VWC Educational Conference Planning CommitteeCharles Steepleton, Event ManagerOutreach Services Manager

Hon. William R. Culbreth, Planning CommitteeDeputy Commissioner

Mechelle Esparza-Harris, Planning CommitteeInsurance Financial Examiner

David Bennett, Web DevelopmentOnline Specialist

Hon. Wesley G. Marshall Hon. R. Ferrell Newman Hon. Roger L. WilliamsChairman Commissioner Commissioner

Ms. Evelyn V. McGill Hon. James J. SzablewiczExecutive Director Chief Deputy Commissioner

Aubrey Chigwada, Planning Committee Insurance Manager

Ryan Duke, Planning Committee EDI QA Assistant Manager

Hon. Brooke Anne C. Hunter, Planning CommitteeDeputy Commissioner

Cindy Frost, Event CommunicationsMarketing Specialist

Virginia Workers’ Compensation Commission Senior Leaders

Virginia Workers’ Compensation Commission Deputy CommissionersFairfaxHon. Susan E. Cummins*Hon. John S. Nevin

ManassasHon. William T. KennardHon. W. Geovanni MunozHon. Dana L. Plunkett*Hon. Jimese Pendergraft Sherrill

LebanonHon. Christen W. BurkholderHon. D. Edward Wise, Jr.

RichmondHon. Frederick M. BrunerHon. Angela F. GibbsHon. Brooke Anne C. HunterHon. Andrea W. LeeHon. R. Temple MayoHon. P. Randolph Roach, Jr.Hon. Randolph P. Tabb, Jr.

*Managing Deputies

HarrisonburgHon. Jason P. Cording*Hon. William R. Culbreth

RoanokeHon. Deborah Wood Blevins*Hon. Robert M. HimmelHon. Linda D. Slough

Virginia Beach*Hon. Lynne M. FerrisHon. Terry L. JenkinsHon. Lee E. Wilder

Chadwick D. BurnsProject Management Office Manager

R. Matthew ColeChief Information Officer

Vivian R. LaneClaims Services Manager

Carolyn Cox NixonHuman Resources Manager

W. Jack RitchieCriminal Injuries Compensation Fund Director

Stephanie C. SweeneyEDI QA Manager

Aubrey ChigwadaInsurance Manager

William S. CrawfordCorrespondence Manager

Teresa B. Laster Information Security Officer

Edward P. RiceChief Financial Officer

Charles W. Steepleton Outreach Services Manager

Virginia Workers’ Compensation Commission Leadership Team

Virginia Workers’ Compensation Commission Site Locations

Regional & Hearing Site

Hearing Site Only

Commission Headquarters

Virginia Workers’ Compensation Commission1000 DMV Drive

Richmond, VA 23220

2016 vwc educational conference

Documents